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Student Lands Dream Job

Monday, 11 March, 2019 - 13:30

A student from Devon has landed her dream job working with Duchy College’s award winning Rural Business School (RBS).

Holly Yelland, 22, from Okehampton, is now working as a Training Co-ordinator for the BVD Stamp It Out Project, whilst also studying for her Post Graduate Certificate in Education which will enable her to become an agricultural lecturer.

“After I attended one of the Duchy College advice events and speaking to the staff I made the decision to apply for the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture course after I left school,” Holly said.

“I thoroughly enjoyed this course and decided to go onto the Foundation Degree in Agriculture followed by the BSc(Hons) Rural Business Management Top Up.”

Holly applied to do her university level study at Duchy because it meant she was able to work at the same time as studying and the small group sizes meant “I didn’t get lost in the crowd”.

“The highlights of my time on the course were the trips that we were taken on – being able to get out into working businesses and seeing first-hand how they cope in business situations, with finance, marketing,” she continued.

“The research project meant being able to work on something that you were passionate about and could help your business progress in the future.”

Holly’s advice to anyone who wants a degree in agriculture, whilst still being able to work and gain lots of different experience in the wider industry is to go to Duchy College.

“The agricultural department has a great atmosphere with amazing staff which offer a vast array of knowledge in an ever changing and expanding industry,” she said.

“I’m also combining the role with setting up my own calf rearing unit on my family’s farm.”

Research Manager at the RBS, Paul Ward, said Holly is “an outstanding graduate who had to fend off strong external candidates to land her position with the RBS”.

“She is a Training Coordinator, responsible for coordinating the activities of all the SW farm vet practices on the EU-Defra- funded ‘Bovine Viral Diarrhoea – Stamp It Out’ project,” he continued.

“Holly gained the post following winning a national Farm Health Management Award at Dairy-Tech 2018 and achieving a First Class Honours degree in Rural Business Management.”